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Schmitt Accuses Jack Smith of Perjury Over Hawks Texts

By Drooid · Oct 2, 2026, 12:02 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Schmitt Accuses Smith

Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) accused special counsel Jack Smith of perjury over a Feb. 3, 2024 Atlanta Hawks game.
Jack Smith said he was not at the Atlanta game but attended a Maryland basketball game between Iowa and Maryland.
Smith added that Caitlin Clark scored 30 points in the Iowa–Maryland matchup.
Schmitt displayed a poster of texts alleging Smith was in Atlanta and removed it before review.
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) highlighted the Hawks/Hawkeyes mix-up and demanded an apology.

Summary

Trump Admin Revokes Clearances

Former FBI agents filed a class-action lawsuit alleging illegal termination in retaliation for Smith’s investigations.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) referred Smith to the Justice Department over alleged false testimony about subpoenaed records.
U.S. President Donald Trump administration revoked security clearances of lawyers representing Smith.
Judge Aileen Cannon barred Smith from discussing details of the classified-documents probe.
Smith’s team obtained text messages from 44 lawmakers via a National Archives subpoena, prompting Republican criticism.

History

Historical Context

In October 1973 President Richard Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox, prompting the “Saturday Night Massacre” and spurring the Senate Watergate Committee to gather more than 2,000 pages of testimony while the Judiciary Committee subpoenaed 44 witnesses. The episode’s clash over independent investigations echoes today’s partisan challenges to Special Counsel Jack Smith by Senator Eric Schmitt and Rep. Jim Jordan.

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Schmitt Accuses Smith

Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) accused special counsel Jack Smith of perjury over a Feb. 3, 2024 Atlanta Hawks game.
Jack Smith said he was not at the Atlanta game but attended a Maryland basketball game between Iowa and Maryland.
Smith added that Caitlin Clark scored 30 points in the Iowa–Maryland matchup.
Schmitt displayed a poster of texts alleging Smith was in Atlanta and removed it before review.
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) highlighted the Hawks/Hawkeyes mix-up and demanded an apology.

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